Sound-operated coin detector and eliminator



Dec. 31, 1929. COURTNEY 1,741,978

SOUND OPERATED COIN DETECTOR AND ELIMINATOR Filed M 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l F I V I M 6 "Z8 6 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY. 5

Dec. 31, 1929. D. E. COURTNEY SOUND OPERATED COIN DETECTOR AND ELIMINATOR Filed May 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I N VEN TOR.

\mAIIvvM 7 a ,4

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 31, 1929 70mm STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' DELBERr E, COURTNEY, or GOLDEN, ooLompo SOUND-OPERATED COIN DETECTOR AND ELIMINATOR Application -fi1ed May 28,

I the device is associated can be operated, so

- obstructive surface in the that only the proper coins are conducted to the inechanism while slugs and spurious coins deposited in the device are collected or discharged at another point.v

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above stated character in which the before described separative action for the elimination of spurious. coins or slugs ,is eflected through the medium of a vibrative element which is sensitive to the sound produced by the coins fallingupon an path leading to the point of discharge.

Another object is to provide a coin eliminator of the described type which is adapted for use in connection with any coin controlled vending machine or musical instrumentor with change makers, cash registers and other 1 similar apparatus.

A further object is to provide in a device of the described characten mechanism for the scription.

elimination of coins smaller than those by which the coin controlled apparatus is operated and for preventing the introduction of coins into the device prior to the discharge of a previously deposited coin and still other objects reside in details of construction anda novel arrangement of partsas will be fully" brought out in the course 'of'the following de- In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference refer to the sam parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents a partially sectional elevation of a slug eliminator embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2, a section taken on the line 2-2.

a of Figure 1 Figure 3, a diagrammatic View of the electric circuits employed in the operation of the invention Figure 4, a perspectlve, sectional and fragsp'out of the sounding chamber.

The bridge 41 is pivotally supported upon the end of a branched chute, the diverging m7. serial-no. 194,974.

mentary view of a coin chute included in the invention; and Figure 5, a sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. Referring more specifically to the drawings,'the'slug eliminator consists in a casing 5 having an inlet opening 6 and provided with outlet openings 7 and 8 for the delivery of good coins and spurious coins or slugs respectively. The opening 7 may connect with the I coin intake of a coin-operated vending machine, musical instrument, change-maker, cash register or the like; and the opening 8 is disposed for the discharge of spurious coins or slugs outside the vending machine, and pre'fera ly'in a cup or other receptacle accessible to the person by whom they were deposited in the appliance. I

A chute 9 connects the coin intake opening 6 with a sounding chamber 10 which at its 7 lower end has a tapering spout 38 throu h which the coins, slugs or other articles eposited inthe appliance, are conducted to a selective device adapted to connect one or the other of the two discharge openings 7 and 8- with the delivery end of the spout. This selective device is provided in the form of an oscillatory bridging member 41 provided with two passages 42and 43 which can be separately' brought into register with the end of the parts 474 and 39 of which connect respectively "with the openings 7 and 8 of the casin By the. above-described arrangement the ridg ing member 41 connects the spout of the sounding-chamber with the outlet 7 in one position and with the outlet 8 in another position. I '90 The connecting member is operated by the sound produced as the coin passes through the chamber 10 which for that purpo'sehas.

been provided with a number of slanting sounding plates 32 which extend alternately 'from opposite sides of the chamber in the path of the coin droppin from the chute 9. The coins or slugs stril ing the plates 32 which are made ofi resonant material, produce a sound the vibrations of which arccommunicated through openings 33 in the wall of the chamber to a vibratory element by which the selective bridging member 41 is operated.

The vibratin form consists o a resilient member 34, re

sponsive to soundvibrations, and connected the circuit of a solenoid the armature of which is operatively connected with the pivoted bridging member 41 of the coin conducting element of the device, so that when the circuit is completed b vibration of the u resilient element 34 the bridge 41 is actuated to bring its passage 42 into register with the outlet of the spent and thereby conduct the coin to the discharge opening 7 connecting with the coin-operated mechanism.

The bridging member 41 in its normal posi tion, when the circuit is broken and the solenoid is deenergized, connects the spout with the discharge openin 8. The vibrating element is attuned to t e sound produced by the coin designated for the operation of the machine with which the present device is connected so that the circuit will be closed only when the proper coin strikes the sounding plates. Slugs or spifrious coins of different metal or weight will not affect the vibratory circuit breaker sufliciently to complete .the circuit, and therefore pass to the discharge opening 8 which is outside the path of the coins leading to the outlet 7.

It follows that only coins of the designated denomination .pass to the coin-controlled machine while slugs or spurious coins are returned outside the same. i I

In order to prevent of the passageof coins smaller than those of the designated value, to the sounding chamber, the chute 9 is rovided with an opening 12 which by a not 14 is connected with the branch ,39 of the delivery chute, connecting with theopening 8. The opening 12 is, in width, smaller than the diameter of .the proper coins, and the ledges 13 in the chute 9 at opposite sides of the o ning are narrower than the depth of the c ute and approximately equal to the thickness of the proper coins, so that all coins of lesser diameter and thickness will be comgelled to fall through the opening into the not 14. I

It 'isdesirable that the; inlet opening 6 of the apphance be closed against the admission element, in its preferred" of other coins while the coin of the proper 7 size passes through the chute and the sound chamber to either discharge opening and with this object in view-a shutter 30 is provided which by means of an electric operating system hereinafter to be described closes the inlet 6 after the coin has passed the opening 12 of the coin chute, and reopens the inlet just prior to the passage of the coin through either-of the discharge openings 7 and 8.

The shutter 30 is to this end, formed on the pivoted armature 29 of an electro-magnet, the coils 28 of which are connected in a circuit controlled by a knife switch 27. The movable member of the switch is operated by .energization of an electro-magnet, the coils 17 of which are in a circuit with two normally insulated contact members 15 and 16 .in the'chute 9, immediatelyv below the opening 12, which contact members are bridged and thereby electrically connected by the coins passing through the chute. When in this manner the circuit oi the electro-magnet 17is completed,the consequent movement of the magnet armature 18 closes the switch 27 through the instrumentality of the following mechanism.

A detent 19 is pivotally suspended from the armature underthe'influence of a. spring 22 which holds it in contact with a fixed pin 21. A ratchet wheel 20 placed in cooperatlve relation to the detent is en a ed thereby when the armature '18 is raised, by the movement of a curved cam face 19 on the detent across the pin 21. A point 19* of the detent engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, causes during movement of the armature and a pawl 23 holds the wheel against retrograde motion. The partial rotation of the ratchet wheel efiects a closin movement of the movable member of the nift switch 27 through the medium of a lever25 one end of which is.

The shutter remains closed untilthe switch 27 is reopened which result is accomplished by the passage of the coin through one of the branch chutes 44 and 39 to the respective out lets 7 or 81 A lever 47 fulcrumed as at 47 outside the branched chute has downwardly slanting arms 45 in. the branches44 and 39 and an l iglwardly ranging arm 46 outside the same. I e last-mentioned arm has a slotand-pin connection with the armature 18 of the latter to move about its axis of rotation the electro-magnet 17, which permits the armature to move upwardly without disturbing the position of the lever.

hen a coin drops through one of the chutes 44 or 39 it engages the respective arm 45 of the lever 47 causing the latter to move about its fulcrum and thereby raise the arm 46. The consequent upward motion of the armature 18 effects a rotary movement of the ratchet wheel 20 as before, through the medium of the detent 19 and the lever 25 being reengaged by one of the pins 24 on the ratchet wheel lifts the movable member of the knife switch 27 to its original position and opens the circuit of the magnet 28.

The circuits have been clearly shown in Figure 3 by lines A and B and no further explanation ot the electrical connections or the paths of the current when the circuits are closed, is thought necessary,

The circuit of thesolenoid 35 which controls the position otthe pivoted bridging member 41 is as follows: Beginning at the source of electricity 31, the conductor A", the solenoid coil, the conductor B, the contacts 37, the vibrative element 34, the conductor A,

the coils of the magnet 28 and the conductor .A, connected to the opposite pole of the source of electricity. i

7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zs 1. In a slug eliminator, a conduit providing a path forcoins to a point of discharge, 3

a sounding plate disposed to be struck coins moving in said path, means for diverting slugs from the path to prevent them from passing to the point of discharge, a vibrative element responsive to sound vibrations, and means controlled by the, vibrative element to operate the diverting means.

2. In a slug eliminator,a conduit provid-' ing a path for coins to a point ofgdischarge,

.a sounding plate disposed to be struck by coins moving in said path, an operative member for diverting slugs from thepath toprevent them from passing to the point of discharge, electric means for the operation of the member, a circuit for said means, and a vibrative circuitbreaker in the circuit, re sponsive to vibrations of sound made by coins striking the sounding plate.

3. In a slug eliminator, a conduit provid- ,ing a path for coins to a point of discharge,

and including a sound chamber having slanting baflies disposed to be struck by coins moi ing through the chamber, means fordiverting slugs from the path to prevent them from passing to the point of discharge, a vibrative element responsive to sound vibrations, adjacent the sound chamber, and means controlled by the vibrativeelement to operate the divert-ingmeans. v

4. In a slug eliminator, a conduit providing a path for coins to a point of discharge, a sounding plate disposed to be struck by coins moving in said path, an Operative member forming part of the conduit and adapted to divert slugs from the path to prevent them from passing to; the point of discharge, a solenoid in operative connection with said member, a circuit for the solenoid, and a vibrative circuit breaker in the circuit, responslve to vibrations of sound made by 'ns s riking the sounding plate. 7 i

- 5. In a slug eliminator, a conduit providing a path for-coins to a pointof discharge, a sounding plate dis osed to be struck by coins moving in said pat an operative member for diverting slugs from the path to prevent them from passing to the point of discharge, electric'means for the operation of the member, a circuit for said means, and a circuit breaker in the circuit, including a resilient contact member responsive to vibrations of sound made by coins striking the sounding,

plate,-and a contact disposed to be conductively engaged by the resilient member when vibratedto a determinate extent.

6. In a slug eliminator, a conduit providing a path for coins to a point of discharge, a sounding plate disposed to be struck by coins moving in said path, a pivoted bridging member forming part of the conduit and adapted to divert slugs from the path to prevent them from passing to the point of discharge, a vibrative element responsive to sound vibrations, and means controlled by the vibrative element to operate the pivoted bridging member.

7. In a spurious coin eliminator, the combination of a sounding board for coins, an electric circuit having a gap, a metallic soundresponsive means connected in the circuit at one side ofthe gap, said means being adapted and situated to vibrate when aproper coin strikes the sounding board, a contact at the.

outlet when the solenoid is energized.

-8. In combination, a conduit providing a path for coins, outlets for proper coins and for.

slugs and other'coins, a resonator disposed to be struck by proper coins moving in said path, an electrically operated device for selectively connecting said outlets with said path, a circuit for the device, and a switch in the circuit including a vibrative member adapted to vibrate to a circuit-closing,position by the sound of the resonator when struck'by ,coin of predetermined value.

'9; In combination, a conduit providing a ath for coins, outlets for proper coins and or slugs and other coins, a resonator disposed to be struck b proper coins movin in said path, an electrically 0 rated device or selectively connecting sai outlets with said path, a circuit for the device, and means in, the circuit adapted to close the circuit by the sound of the resonator when struck by a coin of predetermined value.

10. In a slug eliminator, a conduit providing a path for coins to a'point of discharge, a resonator disposed to be struck by coins moving in said path, means for diverting slugs from the path to prevent them from passing to'the oint of discharge, and means to operate the divert-ing means by sounds of coins striking the resonator. I

11. In a slug eliminator, a conduit providing a pathfor coins from a point of deposit to a point of dischar a sounding plate disposed to be struck y coins moving in said as path, means for diverting slugs from the path to a point-of discharge se arate from the first point of discharge, a' vi rative element responsive to vibrations of soundmade by coins striking the sounding a ment being in control ing relation to the said diverting means. a

12. In combination, a conduit providing a ath for coins, outlets for proper coins and or slugs and "other coins, means for selectively connecting said outlets with said path, a sounding plate disposed to be struck by proper coins moving in said path, an electric circuit} and means responsive to the sound vibrations caused by proper coins striking said late, to close the circuit for actuating said rstmentioned means; 1

13. In combination, a conduit providing a ath for coins ,outlets for proper coins and or slugs and other coins, means for selectively connecting said outlets with said path, a sounding plate disposed to be struck by coins moving in said path, an electric circuit, and

a circuit-breaker in the circuit including a vibrative element responsive to the sound 'made by a proper coin strikingthe plate, to close the said circuit for actuating said selective connecting means. r

14. In coin controlled apparatus, the combination with an operative element disposed for selectively permitting the passage of either coins or slugs to their respective outlets, 'of mechanism for the actuationv of said element by the sound of a deposited coin for per- I passage to the coin outlet only.

15. coin controlled apparatus, the combination with an operative element and a proper coin outlet, of mechanism for the actuation of said element for permitting the pas- .6 sage of proper coins of a predetermined value late, said vibrative elea only to said coin outlet said mechanism being controlled by the sound of a deposited coin.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

DELBERT E. COURTNEY. 

